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Need Help Choosing!
Hi All! I've been enjoying the site for years but I'm coming out of lurking status to get some feedback on some dates.
It's been 2 years since our last trip and we're all getting to the point where we need to start planning our next trip. DS will be starting Junior High this year so we are no longer willing to take the kids out of school for vacation. We figure our "best" options will be Spring Break (which for us is mid-March) or right when school gets out (late May).
So my question for those of you that have gone during those times...which is the lesser of two evils???
The trips would be the same length either way, so that isn't a factor. Approximate dates would be March 16-22 or May 31- June 6.
We had thought about going when school was out, but after reading about all the rain that Florida had this past week, I've gotten a little freaked out about June!
We are good about being there for RD, so while I would prefer the crowds we've had in Mid-May and Sept in the past, we realize that isn't realistic for these dates.
(Just for fun, if you would chose a shorter trip that includes Thanksgiving, you can throw that opinion out here too!!)
Thanks for any and all help!
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06-16-2012 11:08 AM
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I think mid May is better. It will be hotter and more humid, but most schools aren't out yet, so the crowds will be much lower than spring break (especially if your spring break is near Easter).
Working hard for that next WDW trip! December 2013
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I agree with Tina on this one. You are better off going at the end of May than Mid-March. However, in mid-March in 2013, it will still be before Easter (Easter is March 31, 2013), so you may have a good shot at either set of dates. I'd still recommend the end of May because if you go in mid-March, many colleges will be on spring break around that time too.
As for Thanksgiving, I'm assuming that you would do it going over the Thanksgiving holiday. It will be extremely busy around that time, especially through the end of the Thanksgiving weekend. After that, it quiets down until it gets closer to Christmas.
DLR - 02/01 off site
WDW - 10/06 POR, 10/07 BCR, 12/08 POR, 9/09 BWR, 12/10 YCR, 12/11 BWR, 12/12 BWR, 10/13 BWR
DCL - 9/09 Eastern (Magic), 11/10 Western (Magic), 11/11 Bahamas (Dream), 8/12 Nowhere (Magic), 12/12 Eastern (Fantasy), 5/13 Caribbean (Wonder)
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Thanks for the input. I figured that Thanksgiving would be a nightmare. I was hoping that maybe since our Spring Break was pretty early that it might help with crowds a bit. Avoiding the heat and rain of June would be nice!
It looks like the prices are higher for that time frame than for the first week of June. I wish you could price packages online for next year now. I guess patience is a virtue.....would be really nice to start a countdown though!
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Obsessed Disney Mama
Originally Posted by
MissWish
Thanks for the input. I figured that Thanksgiving would be a nightmare. I was hoping that maybe since our Spring Break was pretty early that it might help with crowds a bit. Avoiding the heat and rain of June would be nice!
It looks like the prices are higher for that time frame than for the first week of June. I wish you could price packages online for next year now. I guess patience is a virtue.....would be really nice to start a countdown though!
Your spring break isn't all that early next year since Easter is so early.
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Need Help Choosing!
I have gone both at Spring Break and at the end of May, first of June. I prefer the latter, because the crowds are a little smaller, and for Star Wars weekends at DHS. IMO there is not that much rain during this time. I think during our last summer trip in 2010, there were only a couple afternoon showers and that was it. Enjoy the planning!
Shawn
2013 Pre-Trip Report
Past Trips: June 2006-POR; June 2008-POP; June 2009-CBR; June 2010-VB/AKV Kidani; October 2010-BLT; April 2011-BWV; December 2011-AKV Kidani
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Shawn- It is definitely helpful to hear from you since you've been there during both times! I think I just freaked out a little when I saw how much rain Florida had the first week of June this year. 
Thanks!
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Yellowrosedtxn
I was in Florida at the end of May this year and although it sucked for Memorial Day because our band went to Aquatica and they shut it down twice due to lightening strikes, I think there would still be a lot that could be done at WDW during those times. I prefer going to WDW at the end of May/early June myself. The crowds are smaller and there is so much that can be done. Good luck choosing!
Shelley
DLR - '05, '06, '07(x2), '09, '12; WDW - '97, '10; Disney Cruise celebrating graduations '13
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Registered User
We were there Good Friday thru the following Sunday this year. It only sprinkled on us once for about 10 minutes. The humidity was low and for being Spring Break I thought the crowds were tolerable.
We really made use of Magic Mornings and getting in a small nap in the middle of the day and than closing down the park that had Evening Extra Magic Hours too.
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Thanks Shelley and Hannahbelle! We never had to pick between busy times before. I didn't realize how much more difficult the decision would be now that we can't pull the kids out of school! There seems to be many pros and cons for both times of year. I may have to see what the price difference is to help. It looks like Spring Break is generally more expensive but this year there was free dining and June is possibly less expensive but didn't seem to have free dining. Decisions, decisions!
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How do you like to tour, because I think that would influence my decision if I were you? Will you be prepared to get up early? Do you like the heat? That type of thing.
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Scooby- we are Rope Drop people. It's just so nice to get stuff done before everyone else mobs the place! Even on our previous trips when the kids were younger we were able to do it, so now that they are older it should still be okay. We aren't crazy heat loving people but we have survived Orlando in early May and late Sept. (Animal Kingdom was about 7000 degrees but that seems to be normal from what I've heard!) The kids are requesting more pool time on our next trip, so I should probably factor that in as well....
GnP- Thanks so much for the "local" view! Your info was really helpful. I didn't think about the Spring Breakers maybe being a little more PG than the crowds in early June. 
I know I've over-thought this decision more than I should, but I guess that just makes the planning process even longer and the trip will get here sooner!!
Looks like May/June is in the lead!
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Registered User
Originally Posted by
Goodnplenty
You seem to be concerned about the rain. Rain is not really a factor when visiting WDW. If it's raining at the MK you can go to EPCOT and it won't be. Florida is funny that way. Also, our storms rarely last more than 30 minutes. Even when hurricanes come thru the rain comes in "bands" and you will have clear skies in-between. So please don't let the thought of rain make up your mind for you.
I'm sorry to crash this thread, but very worried about the rain person here! As a local I'd love to hear your experience. In 2008 we got days of solid rain in August on the back of a tropical storm and we're going again this August and I've been reading its going to be a wet one! Are we likely to get days and days of relentless rain again this year?
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Ready for MA World Explorers!
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Originally Posted by
scoobydooby
we're going again this August and I've been reading its going to be a wet one! Are we likely to get days and days of relentless rain again this year?
If you're going by the "Hurricane forecast" then that's not really reliable for how the rain will be in Orlando. It covers the whole season, and the whole area - one year we had 'higher than average activity' but I think only 1 or 2 named storms hit the U.S. They're also indicating that there may be a La Nina (or is it El Nino - I get them confused on which is which) in the Pacific, which does actually affect where hurricanes/TS go and how much they develop - but if it develops soon enough to impact this year wasn't certain when I heard about it a couple of weeks back. (Plus I don't remember if it was the one that decreased impact or increased impact! Details....)
I really think you were hit with something odd going on climatologically - in 2008 - like the low pressure area around a Tropical Storm 'stalling out' or wandering about affecting Orlando constantly.
But hopefully GnP will have some additional (and more local) insight.
ETA: If it was August 19-22 range in 2008 - that was TS Fay and the center of the low actually crossed the panhandle of Florida twice and not that far from Orlando both times, so it would definitely ben an 'odd' special event. Here's the National Hurricane Center 3 day track - watch the 'point' of the cone move around and you can see why I'm guessing this was your rain source (plus it was the first TS I found in August 2008)
Last edited by Drince88; 06-19-2012 at 10:43 AM.
Cathy
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Obsessed Disney Mama
We were there early September last year. The first week it rained every day, but it was short and sweet like GnP described. The second week we WISHED it rained.
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Originally Posted by
Drince88
ETA: If it was August 19-22 range in 2008 - that was TS Fay and the center of the low actually crossed the panhandle of Florida twice and not that far from Orlando both times, so it would definitely ben an 'odd' special event.
Here's the National Hurricane Center 3 day track - watch the 'point' of the cone move around and you can see why I'm guessing this was your rain source (plus it was the first TS I found in August 2008)
I'm passed my edit window - It didn't cross the panhandle of Florida twice - it crossed the PENNINSULA of Florida twice -- the part that Orlando's in, not the part that is in the Central Time zone. Sorry about that - hope I didn't cause any confusion!!
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Thanks Cathy. Yeah it was those dates. And it was horrible! I expect rain. I expect daily rain. I am just hoping and praying it's not relentless rain! My children are beyond excited at the thought of the Beach Club pool I so don't want it to be ruined for them.
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Will the pool close for regular rain? I know it does for lightning (lightning + water = bad). it's not as much fun in the rain, but is it still an option?
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Honestly, in Florida in the summer, it rarely rains without it being a thunderstorm.
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Obsessed Disney Mama
Originally Posted by
currence
Will the pool close for regular rain? I know it does for lightning (lightning + water = bad). it's not as much fun in the rain, but is it still an option?
Stormalong Bay only closed once when we were there using it. The lightening was pretty far away and the issue was that it was coming down hard enough that the life guards couldn't see the bottom of the pool (according to the life guards). Once it slowed down a bit we were let back in. The lightening DID close the slide once, but I think the pool was still open because it wasn't THAT close.
Shannon
Mommy to 3 Princesses and 1 Prince
Miss M(11), J(8) and R(5), and Mr. N(4)
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Originally Posted by
currence
Will the pool close for regular rain? I know it does for lightning (lightning + water = bad). it's not as much fun in the rain, but is it still an option?
We were also at WDW in 2008 during TP Fay. My husband and son were able to swim in the POFQ pool during the height of the storm.
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